By the family

July 17, 2024: Judge Chester J. Straub, of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, died peacefully at the age of 87 on July 13, 2024 at his home in Bronxville, New York with his wife and family by his side.

Judge Straub was born in Brooklyn (Greenpoint), New York in 1937, the older of two children of Chester and Ann (Majewski) Straub, and is survived by his wife of 65 years, Patricia Morrissey Straub; sons: Michael (Rachael), Christopher (Ann), Robert (Dorothy); seven grandchildren,  Robert, Daphne, Christopher, Lindsey, Nicholas, Jack and Mira,  and sister Ann Straub. Hautier (Ivan). Their son, Chester Jr. (Jen) predeceased him.  

Judge Straub had served on the Court of Appeals since 1998, assuming senior status in 2008 and becoming an inactive federal judge in 2017.

After attending Brooklyn Preparatory School, he received his B.A. degree from St. Peter’s College in 1958, and his LL.B. degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1961.

Judge Straub served as a First Lieutenant in U.S. Army Intelligence and Security from 1961 to 1963.

In 1963, he began the private practice of law with Willkie Farr & Gallagher, where he became a partner in 1971, and where he remained until his appointment as a Circuit Judge.

Judge Straub’s private practice was concentrated in litigation, regulatory agencies and governmental affairs. He had been a mediator in the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, and a special master for the New York State Supreme Court in the 1^st Judicial Department.  

Judge Straub also served in the New York State Legislature, Member of the Assembly from 1967 until 1972 and State Senator from 1973 until 1975.  

Judge Straub was Chair of Gov. Mario Cuomo’s New York State Judicial Screening Committee from 1988 until 1994 and of the First Department Judicial Screening Committee from 1983 until 1994. He was a member of Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan’s Judicial Selection Committee from 1976 until 1998.  Judge Straub had also been a member of the Democratic National Committee and chaired Senator Moynihan’s election committee.

In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.